Barney Fife impersonator dies at 57

Scott Epperson, who warmed the hearts of many with his impersonation of Barney Fife at this year’s Elkhart County 4-H Fair, died over the weekend.

Epperson was a retired police detective who lived in Benson, N.C., with his wife of 25 years, Melanie, and their dog, Painter, his obituary states. He started impersonating Barney Fife — a character on the Andy Griffith television show from the 1960s and ’70s — during a theater production when he was a detective and performed 50 to 60 days a year. When he retired three years ago, he was on the road more than 200 days a year.